Diagnostic Techniques Used by Psychologists
When psychologists diagnose patients it is the up most importance that they correclty identify what is wrong the individual so they are able to get the correct form of treatment for their mental illness. As you can imagine a person who suffer schizophrenia would not benefit from treatment designed for an individual with autism. There are two popular ways of diagnosing patients with the various mental ailments. These two methods are The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) and the World Health Organization's International Classification of Disease. The DSM is much more popular and common than the World Health Organization's International Classification of Disease, so the focus of this page will be more towards the DSM.
I remember our teacher Mrs. Arickx describing the DSM as a backwards cookbook. It lists all the symptoms of a disorder and if the person meets all the criteria then they have that certain mental disorder that is associated with the symptoms. The DSM-V uses assessments, interviews, and observations. Psychologist diagnose mental illnesses by answering questions from five levels of the DSM. Psychologists not only aim to diagnose mental illness, but to get their patients the treatment they need.
Some critics to the DSM argue that it is far to easy for someone to be diagnosed with a mental disorder. Some opponents to the DSM even suggest that everyone falls under a certain category of mental illness. Even though the DSM is met with much criticism and skepticism it is still the most popular and successful form of diagnosing mental illness.
Below I have posted two links. The first link is to a youtube video that was posted by PBS News Hour. This video talks about the importance of the upgrade of the DSM from the DSM-V from the DSM-IV. I like how the two doctors on the show discuss the skepticism that psychology as a science meets because of constant upgrades the DSM undergoes. The second link is to an image outlining the major changes the DSM underwent from the fourth to fifth edition. One major change was an entire new chapter on OCD and Trauma and stress related disorders.
Links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j67-uC8icNE
http://www.papersfromsidcup.com/uploads/1/7/8/6/17868121/4936597.jpg?450
I remember our teacher Mrs. Arickx describing the DSM as a backwards cookbook. It lists all the symptoms of a disorder and if the person meets all the criteria then they have that certain mental disorder that is associated with the symptoms. The DSM-V uses assessments, interviews, and observations. Psychologist diagnose mental illnesses by answering questions from five levels of the DSM. Psychologists not only aim to diagnose mental illness, but to get their patients the treatment they need.
Some critics to the DSM argue that it is far to easy for someone to be diagnosed with a mental disorder. Some opponents to the DSM even suggest that everyone falls under a certain category of mental illness. Even though the DSM is met with much criticism and skepticism it is still the most popular and successful form of diagnosing mental illness.
Below I have posted two links. The first link is to a youtube video that was posted by PBS News Hour. This video talks about the importance of the upgrade of the DSM from the DSM-V from the DSM-IV. I like how the two doctors on the show discuss the skepticism that psychology as a science meets because of constant upgrades the DSM undergoes. The second link is to an image outlining the major changes the DSM underwent from the fourth to fifth edition. One major change was an entire new chapter on OCD and Trauma and stress related disorders.
Links:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j67-uC8icNE
http://www.papersfromsidcup.com/uploads/1/7/8/6/17868121/4936597.jpg?450